Unexpected Twist in Nimisha Priya Case in Yemen: Activist Accused of Financial Irregularities

Welcome to the digital platform of News 18 Bihar Jharkhand. I am Rahul Ojha, bringing you a major development in the case of Nimisha Priya, who is facing the death penalty in Yemen. In a surprising turn of events, Abdul Fateh Mehdi, the brother of the deceased Yemeni citizen Abdul Mehdi, has made serious allegations against activist Samuel Jerome, who has been advocating for Nimisha Priya’s release.

According to Abdul Fateh Mehdi, Jerome has been misappropriating funds collected in support of Nimisha Priya. Mehdi accused Jerome of falsely presenting himself as a lawyer and claimed that Jerome collected donations, including $40 via crowdfunding, without the participation or knowledge of the victim’s family in Yemen. Mehdi challenged Jerome to prove these allegations wrong. In a Facebook post, Mehdi recounted meeting the Yemeni President in Sana’a, stating that after receiving the president’s approval, he was warmly congratulated.

Mehdi further alleged that Jerome was capitalizing on the bloodshed of their family under the guise of mediation and warned that the truth would come out unless the deception stopped.

In the wake of these serious allegations, the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council has officially distanced itself from Jerome. According to the Council’s legal advisor Subhash Chandran K R, Jerome left the group on December 28, 2024, immediately after receiving $00 transferred through the embassy on December 27.

Chandran explained that Jerome’s departure was clearly a result of the Council’s investigation into his actions. The Action Council has also severed ties with Vice President Deepa Joseph and member Bobu John, as they allegedly insulted key mediators following the Yemeni authorities’ decision to stay the execution on July 15. Chandran added that they went so far as to question the validity of the stay order and insulted both prominent Sunni leader Kathapuram AP Abu Bakar Musaliar and Yemeni Sufi scholars involved in the mediation, while falsely claiming they were not part of the process.

The Council apologized to the Mehdi family for the distress caused by several individuals associated with the case. According to Chandran, both the families of Nimisha Priya and Abdul Mehdi have been victims of deception.